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Weiss Prize 2016 to Foehn Researcher Alexander Gohm

Meteorologist from the Institute of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences at the University of Innsbruck explores the mechanisms of foehn wind penetration in valleys.

On 20 January, the Weiss Prize 2016 was awarded to the Innsbruck-based foehn researcher Alexander Gohm. Endowed by the Weiss Science Foundation, the Weiss Prize in support of research is managed by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). This was the first time it has been awarded in Innsbruck. The prize money totalling roughly EUR 360,000 goes to a project investigating the mechanisms of Alpine foehn, exploring the penetration in valleys and subsequent decay of this warm and dry downslope wind. Apart from the award winner, attendees at the ceremony included Rudolf Bauer, Chairman of the Weiss Science Foundation, FWF President Klement Tockner and the Rector of the University of Innsbruck, Tilmann Märk.

“On behalf of the Weiss Science Foundation I would like to express heartfelt congratulations to Alexander Gohm for the Weiss Prize 2016”, said the Foundation’s Chairman Rudolf Bauer at the award ceremony, and he continued: “Year by year I am delighted to see how impressively the mission of the Foundation – supporting science in the fields of meteorology and anaesthesia – is fulfilled.”

“Having foundations to help in funding science and research is an enormously important step towards building a culture of philanthropy in Austria”, noted FWF President Klement Tockner in his address. “I would like to thank the Weiss Science Foundation for the trust it places in the FWF and I wish the winner Alexander Gohm outstanding success in his exciting project”, Tockner concluded.

“Young scientists produce a significant share of the research results at our university, which is why we are very pleased that the Weiss Science Foundation is providing support to one of our eminent young meteorologists”, stated Tilmann Märk, Rector of the University of Innsbruck. “The fact that this project successfully met the strict selection criteria of the Austrian Science Fund is another token of the successful work done in the context of our ‘Alpine Space – Man and Environment’ research focus. In this field, the University of Innsbruck plays a leading role at the international level”, Märk added.

Weiss Prize

As of 2014, the Austrian Science Fund FWF has been inviting submissions for the Weiss Prize on behalf of the Gottfried and Vera Weiss Science Foundation. The Weiss Prize supports projects in the areas of meteorology or anaesthesia, alternating each year.The Austrian Science Fund FWF

The FWF is Austria’s central institution for the funding of basic research. The Fund supports research projects of international excellence devoted to the generation, expansion and deepening of scientific knowledge.